Speakers
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Konstantin Iablotckii is the courageous co-president of the Russian LGBT Sports Federation, representing 820 members of sports and recreation associations across 49 regions of Russia. Against odds of imprisonment and personal safety, Iablotckii has been publicly out since 2010, organizing LGBT sports events – 23 events between 2010 and 2013 – and speaking internationally to raise awareness of the new anti-gay law in his country and its impact on human rights. In addition to Iablotckii’s commitment towards improving the safety and health of the LGBT community in Russia, he is an accomplished figure skater and more recently ballroom dancer. Having earned a PhD in analystical chemistry in 2010, he is a chemist and chemistry teacher in Moscow. |
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OUTSPORT TORONTO is delighted to have Deb Pearce back this year as our Master of Ceremonies. Deb Pearce has been an active member in North America's LGBT community for 20 years. She moved to Toronto from Peterborough, Ontario when she was 19 years old. Making her way through many, many jobs, she got her start in entertainment as a drag king in the early 90's. Deb found the spotlight and grew as a performer through improv, hosting hundreds of events throughout North America, sharing stages with Cyndi Lauper, singing, comedy and appearing in drag on Queer as Folk. Her strong commitment to her community is made clear through her many years of raising funds for breast cancer and HIV/AIDS awareness and being a pioneer as the first lesbian to host both mid-day and morning shows on the world’s first LGBT commercial radio station. She is the host of foQus with Deb Pearce on Rogers TV |
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Derrick An is one of four panelists for the SCRUM 6: Volunteering and Career Building session and is the former volunteer coordinator for OutSport Toronto. He is also an active volunteer, entrepreneur and community sports athlete with a background in volunteer management, non-profit administration and physical and health education. Professionally, Derrick is a Special Assistant with the Ontario government and co-founder and managing partner of his own brand and graphic design agency. For Derrick, volunteering benefits both the volunteer and the community. It creates professional opportunities and it is an essential tool for career building and personal growth. He has firsthand appreciation of the impact volunteering can have on local and global communities as well as the volunteer. He has worked to develop stronger volunteer programs in organizations such as OutSport Toronto, Me To We, Free The Children and Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital. Derrick currently volunteers with TOM* Magazine as an operations specialist and Endeavour Volunteer Consulting Network as a volunteer consultant. Derrick is a former Triggerfish Water Polo, Toronto Gay Football League and Gay Ball Society Dodgeball player. He currently plays dodgeball with Downtown Dodgeball, a gay-owned gender inclusive league operating in downtown Toronto. |
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Beth Beattie was born and raised in Toronto. She has enjoyed playing sports all of her life. She has participated in Pink Turf soccer and Rainbow Hoops. The past few years she has been swimming with the Downtown Swim Club. Her passion over the past four years has been playing water polo with the Toronto Tirggerfish. Beth has a masters of law in alternative dispute resolution and enjoys getting to the root of matters. She is very interested in exploring issues around women in sport in the LGBT community. |
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Matt Cordish is the Marketing Manager for Gay Games 9 in Cleveland+Akron. Matt is a Cleveland native, graduating with a BA in Law and Studio Art from Niagara University in Lewiston, NY. During his time at Niagara and under the guidance of his law professor, Matt created the framework for "Gay Rights and the Law," a comprehensive historical context and legal jurisdiction case work course pointed towards the LGBT community in America and its evolution. Also during his time at Niagara, Matt fought for LGBT rights on campus, kickstarting what is now called the "NU Alliance." Matt's professional career started within production of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week for New York, Miami, Los Angeles, Berlin and FashionWeekLive. From that, Matt went into financial operations for a Cleveland-based social service non-profit. He then went on to student recruitment marketing, retention and event planning for the Cleveland Institute of Art. Matt came on board with Gay Games 9 in June of 2013, and is thrilled to be part of a team bringing LGBT athletes from across the world to his hometown. Working with the LGBT community has been a privledge, advocating change and equality to the heartland of America. Matt resides in the West Park neighborhood of Cleveland. |
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Chad A. Craig is a strategic communications and reputation management consultant. Now advancement communications manager for one of Canada's largest and most comprehensive universities, he previously served the university as community relations manager, building positive relationships with local neighbourhoods, community groups, and the City of Toronto. Prior to that, he developed and implemented new communications processes and protocols for the Graduate Studies at York University, the second largest school of graduate studies in the country. Chad advises and serves on committees at non-profit organizations like the Pride Toronto, CAMH Engage, CANFAR, the 519 Church Street Community Centre, and the Friends of Glendon. Chad provides guidance to individuals and organizations driven to improve their reputations and personal brands through individual and group coaching, and through his training system for front-line service communications, PositiveSpeak. |
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Ryan Dyck is Director of Research and Policy at Egale Canada Human Rights Trust, Canada’s only national LGBT human rights organization. He leads the organization’s research and policy agenda on matters relating to lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans human rights both in Canada and abroad, with a focus on hate crime, youth suicide, education, families and seniors. Ryan’s background lies in policy development, government relations and community engagement, having worked for the Canadian federal government in the areas of security and intelligence, governance, immigration and labour law. He holds a Master of Arts in Women’s Studies from York University. |
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A new addition to The 519 team, Kristina Flynn has a background in the Sport and Public Relation industries and a passion for social good. In her new role as Senior Consultant, Project Administration, she is responsible for managing the Sport & Recreation project including: site procurement, contract management, communications & branding, stakeholder relations and systems planning. As a former Varsity basketball player for the University of Guelph, Kristina evolved from an athlete who loves sport for the competition, to someone who loves and values sport as a business and agent of social change in communities. She formerly worked as Manager, Community & Player Engagement for Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd., managing the development and growth of new and existing community and corporate responsibility programs as well as team and personal charitable initiatives of the Raptors and Toronto FC. During her time with MLSE she also managed Brian Burke’s personal LGBT initiatives, organized the company’s first employee-driven pride march, assisted with the organization’s You Can Play partnership and initiated the Raptors “Proud To Play” platform. In her spare time she volunteers for Egale Canada as co-chair of their gala committee. |
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Rosalyn walks with several identities, a woman of colour born with transsexualism, single mom of two daughters, person living with chronic pain, activist, femme and educator. Among other projects she was the organizer of the first Trans(s)exual Day of Pride in Montreal, the First Trans Pride event in Peel Region, last year's TDoR in Peel and this years TDoR in Hamilton. She is a co founder of Alternative Moms (now QWAK) and past magazine, Mommy Queerest. Rosalyn can be found at The Well LBGTQ Wellness Centre in Hamilton, working as the Trans Outreach Advocacy Worker. |
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Trevor Hampden is a strategic marketing communications specialist. Currently the Communications Manager for Pride Toronto, presenter of WorldPride 2014 Toronto, he has worked as a communicator and director for multiple community, arts, media and corporate organizations over the past 19 years. His communications activities have included strategic marketing and brand management, media and crisis management, stakeholder and community relations, and the ability to set tone and set strategic direction. Trevor has worked to promote green energy initiatives with Orna Natural Energy, arts in our communities with Obsidian Theatre, the needs of homeless youth with Horizon’s for Youth and Dynamic Opportunities for Youth. He has worked in finance with TD Bank and as Director of Corporate Communications with Dundee Wealth, where he also directed sponsorship that led the firm to win the Imagine Canada Corporate Citizenship Award in 2006. A former journalist having worked with a number of Canada’s leading media organizations’, Trevor was also a board member of the Canadian Association of Black Journalists. |
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Christine Hsu is a recent University of Toronto graduate with a degree in Physical & Health Education and a degree in Education from the Ontario Institute of Studies in Education. She was very involved throughout her university career both as a varsity athlete, playing Women's Lacrosse, and a student leader. She was the Vice President of Equity for Physical & Health Education Undergraduate Association for two academic years, LGBTOUT Athletics Director, and an executive and session facilitator for Lead with Pride Leadership symposium for LGBTQ students. She has had extensive experience working in putting together leadership programming for FKPE, specializing in equity and inclusivity in sports and recreation. To complete her equity leadership portfolio during her years of studies, she was involved with mental health awareness and education initiatives to help eliminate stigma on mental health illnesses amongst the student population. |
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Mike Hughes is a native of Toronto and is a proud member of the LGBTTIQQS community. He has worked within the Mental Health and Addictions spectrum for several years. He has extensive experience with individual/group counselling, case management, and program development within the LGBTTIQQS community. He has worked in a number of settings which include Hospitals, Housing, Concurrent Disorders, Addictions, Crisis Services and the Justice System. Mike is a frequent guest lecturer at George Brown and Humber Colleges. Mike was pivotal in the development of the At Home/Chez Soi Project addressing National homelessness with the Mental Health Commission of Canada. |
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Kyle is a graduate of George Brown College’s Event Planning and Destination Tourism program. He is working in a Community Outreach role at the Toronto 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Organizing Committee. Kyle’s experience with managing complex projects and tight budgets includes, the first Celebrate Yonge, various initiatives with MP Olivia Chow, and the national tribute network to Jack Layton through the Movember movement. |
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Japneet Kaur is currently a Manager of Strategic Initiatives at BMO Wealth Management where she has held a variety of positions for the past three years. Prior to joining BMO, Japneet completed both her Master of Financial Economics and Bachelor of Commerce at University of Toronto. She has been an active member of the LGBTQ community for many years, including as President of Out On Bay Street, Team Lead (VIP & Protocol) PrideHouseTO, and collective member Notso Amazon Softball League. Currently, Japneet sits on the Advisory Board for the LGBT Giving Network and is an active participant in various LGBTQ sports leagues in Toronto. |
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Tobie Marven has been working in mental health and addictions for 8 years after studying in Equity Studies and Sexual Diversity at UofT. She has done workshops on vartiety of topics including feminist organizing, gender, sexuality and mental health for a variety of academic and grassroots based organizations. As a case manager she assists clients dealing with crisis and stressors on a daily basis and is passionate about helping other develop startigies to help better deal with stressors in their lives. You can find her playing waterpolo with Triggerfish or hitting the heavy bag at Newgirls on her time off. |
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Adam is OUTSPORT TORONTO's man for Community Outreach, and responsible for our presence at the Pride Festival each year. He clearly has a keen interest in Pride for 2014, and will be facilitating the session this year on WorldPride along with our partners at Pride Toronto. Adam believes in the power of sport to help people and communities build trust, self-confidence, and meaningful connection, and the ability of the equal playing field to break down perceptions of difference. |
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Catherine Meade is the Director, Multi-Sport Games for the City of Toronto. In this role, she leads the Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division’s 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games Branch and has ultimate oversight over the 2012 Ontario Summer Games. She earned a B.P.E. degree from McMaster University; an M.A. degree focused on sport administration and management from the University of Alberta; and an LL.B. degree, cum laude, from the University of Ottawa. Catherine has a long history of involvement in the LGBT movement. She was the President of Womonspace, a lesbian social and recreational organisation in Edmonton in the early 1990’s. She attended the 1990, 1994, 1998 and 2002 Gay Games. As well, she led city teams preparing for each of those Gay Games and was a member of Toronto’s Bid Team to host the 2002 Gay Games. In 2004, Catherine became a founding board member and Co-President of the Gay & Lesbian International Sport Organization (GLISA). As such, she oversaw the delivery of the 2006 World Outgames in Montreal, the 2005 North American Outgames in Calgary and the 2008 Asia-Pacific Outgames in Melbourne. In addition, Catherine served on the Site Selection Committee for the 2009 World Outgames in Copenhagen. Catherine also has an extensive volunteer background in mainstream sport, the highlights of which include working with the 1993 World University Games, the 1994 Commonwealth Games, the 1996 Olympic Games and the 1999 and 2011 Canada Winter Games. Through the years, Catherine has served on the boards of the National Association of Women & Law, the Metropolitan Community Church Toronto, the Nova Scotia Rainbow Action Project, and numerous other community organisations such as women’s shelters and the Black Educators’ Association. Before commencing her law degree, Catherine worked as a human rights/equity professional for eight years with organisations such as: the Canadian Human Rights Commission, Acadia University and the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society. |
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Known for her humour, positivity, and welcoming style, Kate Moore is a seasoned professional with over 20 years experience working and playing in the field of diversity and inclusion. She is a dynamic speaker who guides her audience in having “ah-ha” moments and adopting new, more inclusive approaches. Kate is the founder and owner of Vital Shift Consulting (www.vitalshiftconsulting.com). A consulting firm that collaborates with corporations, not-for-profit organizations and government on diversity and inclusion initiatives. She draws on her past experience working, volunteering, studying and travelling in over 40 countries as well as her past roles as a Camp Director, Executive Director of the Ten Oaks Project, Coordinator of Ryerson University’s International Services for Students Department, and Manager of the federal Multiculturalism Program. Kate’s credentials include certification in Leadership and Transformation from the Hendricks Institute, an M.A. in cultural geography from Université Laval, a B.Ed from OISE/University of Toronto and a joint honours Bachelor of Environmental Studies and French from the University of Waterloo. Kate also has a background as a high performance athlete, filmmaker and wilderness guide and instructor. Kate savours time spent with her spouse, Manon, and their daughter Mira exploring nature, playing sports, participating in cultural events and volunteering locally and internationally. |
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Jeremy is an HR Relationship Manager for TD Securities, the Global Investment Bank of TD Bank Group. Previously Jeremy worked as a Senior Recruitment Consultant at CIBC World Markets and sat on the national board of the CIBC Pride Network. Jeremy also successfully placed dozens of candidates in multiple industries across the GTA while working as a Senior Business Manager at Hays Specialist Recruitment for four years. |
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James graduated from McMaster University with a commerce degree, and joined the Hudson's Bay Company upon graduation. It was this, his current job, that was the original impetus for a move to Toronto in 2007, however, he was soon able solidify his roots in the city, by way of becoming involved in the LGBT sport community. Joining the Cabbagetown Group Softball League introduced James to Toronto's best kept secret - a thriving, inclusive, and healthy community of LGBT-friendly athletes. Through friends he made on his softball team, he took up curling as a winter sport. He became involved in an informal football "pick-up" game in 2009, and then with a team of committed volunteers, took up the task of establishing the Toronto Gay Football League. As assistant commissioner, he saw the league launch in 2010 with +75 players and five teams. James has a great appreciation for the power of sport to create a community of inclusiveness and healthy living. He is thrilled to be apart of the OutSport Toronto board, as director of membership and member services. |
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Christi-an’s yoga classes are a balancing act of breath, deep listening, physical integration and kindness. She offers tools to befriend your body, cultivate attention, and connect to your heart. She is the director of Kula Yoga Studio Annex, a space that aims to be an anti-racist and fat, trans, and queer positive space. As part of a collective of teachers she started a queer yoga class as a safer entry point into yoga practice and as an opportunity to build community with other queer folks. Off the mat, you might find her skateboarding on the streets of Toronto or making art with dyes and fabrics. www.mykula.ca |
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Gabby Stemphlet is the Volunteer Specialist at a student travel company, developing and executing international volunteer opportunities for youth. A Laurier alumni with a degree in Environmental Studies and Communications, Gabby is also the Events Manager for Fair Trade Toronto. Previously, Gabby worked in the non-profit sector, connecting young people to the issues they are passionate about. |
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Chris Studer is the current Executive Director and one of the four founders of the non-for-profit "Get REAL," an organization that seeks to eliminate homophobia at the source by using a grassroots, students-teaching-students approach. The organization has seen rapid expansion since its inception in Spring of 2011, with university campus teams in Ontario, Alberta and New Brunswick, and presentations made to thousands of students across multiple school boards. A Toronto native, Chris' passions include advertising (before taking on Get REAL full-time Chris worked as a copywriter), drumming in various bands, reading interesting biographies, and documenting creative street art across the city. He is 23, and a graduate of the University of Western Ontario, with an Honours Specialization in Political Science. |
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Gerlinde Weger is an Organization Change Management professional who specializes in the design, development and overall implementation of company-wide Strategic Change initiatives. Having started her career in international advertising - working in Canada, Germany and Hong Kong - Gerlinde then joined a ground breaking Internet development company where she lead teams that created first full service online banking site in Europe and the first personalized, data-base driven banking site in the United States. With a passion for social contribution, Gerlinde has served on the boards of, and consulted to grass roots and national volunteer associations.
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Alex is proud to be one of this year’s Co-Chairs at Scrum! He is a recent graduate from the University of Toronto where he did a double major in History and Theatre and a minor in Sexual Diversity Studies. At U of T he started the universities first LGBT levy receiver as well as a student leadership symposium for LGBT identified students. Through out his undergrad he developed a passion for making spaces that aren't traditionally welcoming to queer people accessible. This experience combined with his love of amateur sport is what brought him into the fold at OutSport Toronto. This past year he also joined the Toronto Triggerfish where he proudly wears the fish name of Red Snapper. |